Photo: Oia, Greece · TomasEE · CC BY 3.0
First-Timer Guide 🇬🇷Greece: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Greece
A typical first trip here runs about $1,025 to $1,400 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Fresh Mediterranean diet: olive oil, feta, fresh vegetables
- Mezze (small plates): tzatziki, dolmades, spanakopita
- Souvlaki, moussaka, fresh seafood
- Strong coffee culture and ouzo tradition
- Greek Easter (movable date) - most important religious holiday
- Name days celebrated more than birthdays
- Ancient sites and ruins central to cultural identity
- Traditional Greek dancing at festivals and weddings
Greek is primary. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Greek alphabet is different, but major signs have English. Greeks appreciate attempts to speak Greek.
- Greetings include cheek kisses (even for men)
- Greeks are loud and expressive - it's not arguing, it's passion
- Don't wave with open palm (considered offensive gesture)
- Hospitality (philoxenia) is sacred - accept offered refreshments
Best Time to Visit
Greece has a Mediterranean climate; spring and autumn are warm and less crowded, while summer is hot and the busiest on the islands.
- Peak: June to August
- Shoulder: April to May, September to October
- Off season: November to March, milder on the coast
Source: emy.gr
Getting Around
- Ferries connect the mainland to the islands, with more sailings in summer.
- Athens has a modern metro, and intercity buses link towns on the mainland.
- Book island ferries early in peak season and allow for occasional weather delays.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: Island summers, especially July and August, push lodging to its highest, while spring and autumn are cheaper.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Greece?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Greece safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Greece
Updates for Greece will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.